Jeremiah Smith heads into 2026 as the clear top receiver in college football, but Ohio State’s biggest weapon is also walking into the toughest setup of his career.
Smith finished the 2025 season with the best grade in the country, according to Pro Football Focus, which gave him a 90.7. For the Buckeyes, that only reinforced what has been obvious since the back half of his freshman year: he has become the standard at wide receiver.
The challenge now is that being the best is no longer enough by itself. Ohio State needs Smith to keep dominating, but it also needs someone else to step forward and make defenses pay for loading up on him.
That was easier to manage in Smith’s first two seasons. As a freshman, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate helped absorb attention.
Last year, Smith and Tate were the pair defenses had to deal with every week. In 2026, the support system looks far less certain.
Behind Smith, Ohio State has four unproven options: Brandon Inniss, Kyle Parker, Devin McCuin and Chris Henry Jr. One of them has to rise fast, because Smith cannot be expected to win against double and triple teams every week and carry the entire passing game on his own.
That pressure matters for Julian Sayin, too. The quarterback is trying to move past the disappointing finish to the 2025 season, and Smith’s production will be a major part of that effort.
If Inniss turns out to have simply been waiting his turn and Henry Jr. proves to be the next man up, Ohio State could be set up for a big December and January. If not, Smith may be forced into an uphill fight, and the Buckeyes will have to get creative on offense.
Either way, Ohio State fans should savor what’s left. Smith has more than 15 games remaining in his Buckeyes career, and he is already building a case as one of the greatest wide receivers college football has ever seen.
In Other News...
Ohio State Basketball Suddenly Has A Real Shot At Another Five Star
Jake Diebler has already given Ohio State basketball a real jolt on the recruiting trail, landing two five-star prospects in the 2026 class as he keeps pushing to rebuild the programs standing. The next big swing is already in motion, with the Buckeyes firmly in the mix for DeMarcus Henry, one of the most coveted names in the 2027 class and a player whose list of finalists has started to take shape.
Ohio State is among the schools still standing for Henry, alongside a heavy group of national powers that underscores just how competitive this chase will be. For Diebler, the appeal is obvious: another elite addition would deepen the talent base and help keep the momentum going as the Buckeyes try to turn recruiting traction into the kind of postseason relevance the program is aiming for under his leadership. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's 2027 QB Pursuit Suddenly Feels Far More Complicated
Ohio States quarterback board for 2027 has started to look less straightforward than it did a few weeks ago. Brady Edmunds is already in the class, but his commitment has not felt completely locked in, and the Buckeyes have also spent time trying to pry Nebraska quarterback Trae Taylor away from his pledge, a sign that the staff is still weighing its options as it maps out the position for the next cycle.
The bigger picture is what makes the pursuit tricky. Tavien St. Clair is expected to be the starter after this season, Julian Sayin is likely headed toward the NFL, and Ohio State is also juggling other recruiting priorities, which could leave the staff leaning on the transfer portal for future depth instead of adding another 2027 quarterback. For now, Edmunds remains the name to watch, but the path from here is anything but settled. [Read more 🡒]